Up North: Spooner Rodeo a Staple of the Summer

Eyewitness SportsJuly 11, 2017 09:53 PM

Summers in Spooner, Wis. wouldn't be the same without the rodeo. Continuing to stack the competition with some of the best cowboys and cowgirls for over six decades, the Spooner Rodeo continues a grand tradition.

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"The whole state of Wisconsin; it's not like they have a rodeo every week somewhere, but this is one of the big ones," said Tim Lepard of Pontotoc, Miss.

It's also a special one added Missa Taylor the 2017 Heart of the North Spooner Rodeo Queen.

2017 Heart of the North Rodeo

WDIO/Paul Walsh

"The Spooner Rodeo is one of those family events. Everybody comes to this rodeo with the image that my whole family is here, my whole rodeo family is here. It's the biggest rodeo family you'll be ever be around," said Taylor.

The Cumberland, Wis. native said one of the most unique aspects about the Spooner Podeo is the continuation of the Exceptional Rodeo; to assist youth participants with specially designed rodeo activities.

"It was amazing to have the queen here and just to be treated like royalty to come to the rodeo," said Jeff Chandler of Bruce, Wis. "(My daughter) Isabella loves the horses, loves to hang out with the rodeo queens. She had a great time. We all do," he added.

Another popular event for the younger ones it know as mutton bustin'. Where staying on a boarded woolie was the goal, but plenty enjoyed falling in the mud.

"I hung on tight and I didn't let go," said seven year-old Luke Yoder and the mutton bustin' winner.

"I like riding on the sheep and falling in the mud, I just love mud," said six year-old Audriana Peterson.

The headliners always seemed to be the one competing in the most dangerous events.

"It's just kind of what we were raised in I guess and there's no better way to make a living between my eyes, said Isaac Diaz of Desdemona, TX. "There's ups and downs to it, but it's always fun."

Including the ones who put themselves between the bull and the rider, like Luke Moore of Story City, Iowa, but that's what they choose to do.

"It's an adrenaline rush. I love it, I crave it," said Moore. "I was in the army for five years and I left the army specifically to come here and fight bulls."

The Spooner Rodeo is celebrating 64 years this summer, but Bob LeMoine can claim he's seen them all.

"Never missed one. In fact, I'm the only guy who's still alive that got this things going," said LeMoine.

The 89 year-old says the Spooner Rodeo has always been special to him because he used to work for Barnes Professional Rodeo Company, the partner of the Spooner Rodeo, before it became a staple of the summer. Now, it's become an event others from around the world look forward to being asked back to.

"It's not really heard of because they put you on a rotation for about four, six, eight years, so it just wooed me that I got to come back," said Lepard.